MADRID (BN24) — FC Barcelona responded to rival Real Madrid’s weekend setback by cruising to a 3-0 victory over Levante UD on Sunday, climbing back to the top of La Liga.
Goals from Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong and Fermín López at Camp Nou halted Barcelona’s two-match skid and lifted the Catalan club one point above Madrid, which fell 2-1 at Osasuna a day earlier.
Madrid had entered the weekend on an eight-game league winning streak before its stumble. Barcelona, meanwhile, had been searching for stability after a 2-1 league loss to Girona and a 4-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
“We know it isn’t easy to start winning again after two defeats, but the team gave a very good response,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said afterward.
The result restored momentum for a side that had managed only one clean sheet in its previous six matches across all competitions.
Barcelona wasted little time asserting control. Bernal, the 18-year-old midfielder, struck from close range in the fourth minute, capitalizing on early pressure to settle the hosts.
Levante had threatened briefly in the opening moments, but Bernal’s finish shifted the rhythm decisively. “They had an early chance but my goal helped us settle and gain some confidence,” Bernal said.
The teenager’s goal followed his first senior-team strike two rounds earlier in a victory over Mallorca, underscoring his growing influence in Flick’s rotation.
De Jong doubled the advantage in the 32nd minute, finishing from inside the area after a fluid passing sequence. Barcelona dictated possession and tempo, limiting Levante’s opportunities to counter.
López capped the afternoon with an emphatic long-range effort in the 81st minute. His shot ricocheted off the post before crossing the line, extinguishing any lingering doubt about the outcome.
Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan prevented the scoreline from widening further. Ryan produced back-to-back saves in the closing minutes first denying Raphinha with a header, then blocking López’s close-range rebound attempt.
For Levante, the defeat marked a fourth consecutive loss and deepened relegation concerns. The club sits 19th in the standings, one point above last-place Oviedo, which has a game in hand. Levante has secured just one victory in its past eight league matches.
The visitors’ defensive organization faltered under Barcelona’s sustained pressure, and their limited attacking threat rarely troubled the hosts after the opening minutes.
The match also featured a landmark moment for Lamine Yamal, who recorded his 100th official win with Barcelona, becoming the youngest player in club history to reach that total.
The 18-year-old winger has amassed 139 appearances for the club, compiling 16 draws and 23 defeats alongside his century of victories. Flick dismissed suggestions that Yamal appeared frustrated when substituted late in the game, framing the change as routine squad management.
Pedri returned to action in the 66th minute, marking his first appearance in nearly a month following injury. His reintroduction offers an additional boost as Barcelona prepares for a demanding stretch that includes a league meeting with Villarreal.
Elsewhere in the league, Villarreal Barcelona’s next opponent rallied to defeat Valencia 2-1 at home, maintaining a three-point cushion over Atletico Madrid in the race for Champions League places. Atletico had beaten Espanyol 4-2 on Saturday.
Celta Vigo overcame Mallorca 2-0 with veteran forward Iago Aspas scoring twice late, while Sevilla edged Getafe 1-0 despite playing against 10 men for much of the match following Djene Dakonam’s early red card.
Barcelona’s resurgence arrives at a pivotal juncture in the title race. With Madrid demonstrating vulnerability after its defeat at Osasuna, the margin for error narrows for both sides. The psychological dimension may prove as decisive as tactical execution.
Flick’s team had appeared unsettled in recent weeks, particularly in defense. Sunday’s clean sheet, though against a struggling opponent, could serve as a stabilizing force. Bernal’s emergence offers depth and youthful energy, while De Jong’s composure in midfield restored balance.
Equally significant is the return of Pedri, whose creativity and control often shape Barcelona’s tempo in high-pressure fixtures. If he regains full fitness, Barcelona’s attacking patterns could regain the fluidity that characterized its strongest performances earlier in the campaign.
For Madrid, the challenge will be responding swiftly to prevent momentum from shifting. Eight consecutive wins had built a cushion; one defeat has now reignited the contest.
Levante’s outlook, by contrast, appears increasingly precarious. Defensive lapses and inconsistent finishing have undermined efforts to climb clear of the bottom three. Without an immediate turnaround, relegation looms.
Barcelona’s ability to convert opportunity into advantage reflects a broader theme of elite competition: championships are frequently decided not only by brilliance, but by resilience after setbacks. Sunday’s display suggested a team determined to steady itself at a crucial stage.
As the season enters its final stretch, the battle for La Liga supremacy promises heightened intensity. For now, Barcelona stands alone at the summit once more its response timely, its ambitions intact.
